Dana White: Everything I hear from Nick Diaz is that he doesn't want to fight

HOUSTON – Don’t start getting too excited about that Michael Bisping vs. Nick Diaz fight just yet. While you’ll struggle to find someone to say they wouldn’t be interested in seeing the two clash, UFC boss Dana White isn’t convinced Diaz is planning a return to the sport.

“I love that fight,” White said following today’s pre-UFC 166 media session. “I love that fight. I like it, but everything I hear from Nick Diaz is that he doesn’t want to fight.”

Talk of the potential bout first surfaced earlier this week, after UFC 166 main-card competitor and Diaz teammate Gilbert Melendez said he expected the former Strikeforce champion would end his current retirement if a convincing offer came along.

Bisping (24-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) was all to happy to throw his hat in the ring, tweeting, “Well if Diaz wants a fight at 185 I would happily welcome him to the division.”

Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC), who’s done most of career work at welterweight, retired in the cage following a title loss to Georges St-Pierre in March. Few in the industry, though, have taken Diaz’s retirement too seriously. There was brief speculation about a new deal and though White recently offered him a fight with middleweight Lyoto Machida, Diaz has given no indication he’s seriously contemplating a return to the cage.

And if things are any different behind the scenes, White isn’t sharing. But he also isn’t hiding his enthusiasm for a potential Bipsing vs. Diaz slugfest.

“I love that fight,” White reiterated. “Fun fight.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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